Prayer Week and Global Day of Prayer 2008

This Pentecost Sunday, May 11, millions of Christians, from 210 nations around the world will be gathering to worship and pray for God's kingdom to come on earth as part of the fourth Global Day of Prayer.

According to christiantoday.com, there will be over 38 events across

Christians prayingthe UK in cathedrals, civic centers, stadiums, high places, parks, churches and houses of prayer.

"The Global Day of Prayer started in South Africa in 2005 and is based on Acts 1 and 2 - ten days of constant prayer (May 1-10); 1 day for the whole church to gather (May 11) and 90 days of blessing (May 12-August 10). The aim is to see local churches united in prayer to see communities transformed by the Holy Spirit," said the Christian Today story.

"Six Anglican cathedrals will host united prayer events in Birmingham, Chester, Norwich, Beverley Minster, Sunderland Minster and York Minster.

In Belfast, Christians will be meeting in the Great Hall of the Parliament Buildings in Stormont to worship, pray and give thanks for God's answers to prayer in the province.

Christians in Edinburgh will prayer-walk the seven hills surrounding the city and Swansea will host a gathering in Castle Gardens.

"Churches across London have been invited to use sections of the Prayer for the World on the Sunday morning. There will be three stadium events in Redditch, on the Isle of Wight, and the UK's biggest event will be at Millwall football stadium in London where plans are being made for 30,000 Christians to gather."

Jane Holloway, UK coordinator of the Global Day of Prayer and head of the World Prayer Centre, Birmingham, said, "We hope that many people will join in and be part of this unprecedented prayer meeting on 11 May and then put feet on their prayers taking part in all the initiatives planned for the rest of the year with Hope08."

For more information, go to http://www.globaldayofprayer.co.uk/ or http://www.hope08.com/

Prayer Week 4th to 11th May 2008
Global Day of Prayer Sunday 11th May 2008

• Prayer Week
• Global Day of Prayer UK
• Global Day of Prayer international
• Prayer Week activities in Scotland
  

Google faces legal action

Internet giant, Google, is facing legal action in British courts because it will not allow adverts for websites which contain "abortion and religious-related content".

The well-known search engine blocked a pro-life ad for The Christian Institute's website, christian.org.uk, because it is a "religious" website. Lawyers for the Institute say this is unlawful discrimination.

Google is happy to allow adverts for non-religious sites with views on abortion. It also allows adverts for pornographic sites as long as the sex is consensual and does not involve children or animals.

But Google banned the Institute's ad for "inappropriate content", saying "Google policy does not permit the advertisement of websites that contain 'abortion and religion-related content'."

The Institute's draft ad was worded: "UK abortion law: Key views and news on abortion law from The Christian Institute. www.christian.org.uk."

The Equality Act 2006 prohibits religious discrimination in the provision of a good, facility or service. The Institute believes it is being treated differently because of its religious beliefs.

Last week the Institute's solicitors wrote to Google asking the company to change its policy or face legal action.

Google's website states: "Google was founded with a clear vision in mind: To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."

It is the number one search engine in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and Australia, with over 80 million unique users per month.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute: said: "Google promotes itself as a company committed to the ideals of free speech and the free exchange of ideas. It is against this standard that Google's anti-religious policy is so unjust.

"For many people, Google is the doorway to the internet. It is an influential gatekeeper to the marketplace of debate. If there is to be a free exchange of ideas then Google cannot give special free speech rights to secular groups whilst censoring religious views.

"To describe abortion and religion-related content as 'unacceptable content', while at the same time advertising pornography, is ridiculous."

• How the Christian Institute's ad as it would have looked
• Google's email to the Institute, refusing to accept the ad
• The letter from the Institute's solicitors to Google
• Daily Mail article
• Daily Telegraph article
• The Christian Institute
• The Christian Institute Scotland